I remember when I was a kid times were hard and things were bad There's a silver lining behind every cloud Just poor people that's all we were tryin' to make a livin' out of black land dirt We'd get together in a family circle and sing out loud (Well daddy sang bass) mama sang tenor (Me and little brother would join right in there) Cause singin' seems to help a troubled soul One of these days and it won't be long I'll rejoin them in a song I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne No the circle won't be broken by and by Lord by and by (Well daddy sang bass) mama sang tenor (Me and little brother would join right in there) in the sky Lord in the sky [ guitar ] Well I remember after work mama would call in all of us You could hear us singin' for a country mile Now little brother has done gone on I'll rejoin him in a song We'll be together again up yonder in a little while (Well daddy sang bass) mama sang tenor... In the sky Lord in the sky